Lightning-arrester construction



April Z7 1926.

L. s. BRACH LIGHTNING ARRESTER coNs'lRUc'rIoN Filed May 17, 1919 VE N TOH By MHP( Arron/ver Patented Apr. 27, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEON B. BEACH, 0F EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

LIGHTNING-ARRESTER CONSTRUCTION.

Application med Hay 17, 1919. Serial No. 297,748.

To all lwhom zt may concern:

Be it known that I, LnoN S. BRACH, residing at East Orange, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Lightning-Arrester Construction, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to protective devices designed for the protection of low voltage apparatus and devices from injury due to abnormal electric discharges through the line, such for instance as lightning discharges or such discharges as might occur when a telephone, telegraph,- or signal wire becomes crossed with a line of high potential. The present invention deals more particularly with lightning arresters of the vacuum type where spaced electrodes are en.- closed in an evacuated container or in a closed vessel containing a rarefied inert gas.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an arrester of the class described, which will be strong, durable and practically immune from external shocks and jars, sudden external changes in temperature as well as sudden internal chan ves in temperature produced by abnormal ischarges through the arrester.

The invention of the present arrester, While in its broad aspect is similar to that disclosed in my co-pending application Serial Number 297,747, has the additional advantage providing for the care of an additional circuit Without. enlarging or complicating the internal construction of the arrester.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction of the head mountings of the arrester and the manner of mounting the terminal members therein.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specic than those referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description ofthe elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles, constituting the invention, and the scope lof protection contemplated will be indicated in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein I have illustrated a preferred form of embodiment of my invention:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the arrester.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the exterior of the arrester. t

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the arrester.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views thereof, the reference numeral 1 denotes the evacuated glass container, to the ends of whichV are sealed the leading-in wires 2 and 3.

The leading-in wire 2 passes through a block 4 formed of a high heat resisting inuklating material, such as porcelain, or the Seated in a circular recess 5 formed in in the block 4, is an electrode 6. The leadingin wire is suitably electrically connected with this electrode. In the present instance it extends through an aperture drilled therethrough, and suitably fastened therein, .for instance, as by means of solder.

Although various metals may be employed in forming the electrode, I preferably employ nickel steel in this relation, owing to the fact that this material has the advantage of not emitting gas or the heat generated by a discharge through the arrester.

Surrounding the electrode 6, and suitably spaced therefrom to provide a s ark gap of the desired dimensions, is a tubu ar electrode 7, likewise preferably formed of nickel steel. This electrode at one end encircles the block 4 and engages with a shoulder 8 formed upder, but is 10 are spaced apart a suiiicient distance so a suitable recess 24 in the terminal member 05 that no arcing will take place therebetween, the spark gaps bein formed between the block electrodes and t e tubular electrode 7.

The electrode 7 is not a complete cylinreferabl formed of a sheetof metal bent mto the orm of a cylinder with the free ends of the sheet spaced slightly apart from end to end, leaving a recess or slot from end to end of the device, as indicated at 12.

N The primary purpose of this slot is to permit of the v1ew1n of the interior of the device, so that t e condition of the s aced electrodes located in the vacuum c amber may at all times be observed. This construction of the electrode, however, has a further advantage in that when assembling it with the insulating blocks 4 and 9 a more perfect fit between the parts is assured inasmuch as the cylinder will be strong enough to accommodate slight imperfections or 1rregularities which often appear in porcelain parts.

Surrounding the electrode 7 is a cylindrically formed sheet of mica 13, the same being located between the circular electrode 7 and the inside surface of the glass container.

The glass container 1 is preferably enclosed in a cylinder 14-formed of a tough, heat resisting, insulating material, such as libre, although other materials, such as a composition containing asbestos may be advantageously used in this relation. This cylinder quite closely embraces the glass container and is provided with an elongated slot or o ening 15, which when the device is assemblieds located directly opposite the slot or opening 12 in the electrode 7. The interior of the arrester it will be noted can be viewed throu h lthese registering open# ings, the mica s ield and t e transparent wall of the glass container.

Fitted upon the lower end of the fibre tube 14 is a metallic cap 16, having a cir-` cular opening, the edges of which are ada ted to be received in a slot or recess 17 ormed in the terminal member 18, the latter having a central bore through which extends the leading-in wire 3. The terminal member 18 in lts outer end is provided with a recess 19 adaptedl to receive a body of solder 20, which mechanically and elec trically connects the leading-in wire 3 to the terminal. The suitable nuts and washers 21 are threaded upon the terminal member auch for instance as porcelain or bakelite,

- the construction being such that the terminal member 23 may be molded therein,

insuring against its displacement from the moldable material composing the block 22.

Mounted upon the upper end of the cylinder 4 is a metallic cap 25, which maym'oe attached thereto as by means of pins 26, which pass through the wall of the cylinder 14 into the block 22, this construction holding the cylinder 14 the head 22 and the metallic cap in ixe relation.

Seated in a recess 27 formed in the tubular electrode 7 and extending 'upwardly therefrom, and sealed through the wall of the glass container, is a second leading-in wire 28, the same passing through an aperture 29 formed in the upper end of the cylinder 14 and being received in a Irecess 30 provided in the metallic cap 25 and soldered or brazed to the wall of this recess so as to make a mechanical and electrical connection therewith. The leading-in wire 2 extends through a bore or aperture provided y in the terminal member 23, and is fastened thereto as by means of a body of solder 31, located in a recess 32 formed in the upper end of the stem or post 33 of the terminal member 23. The stem or post 33 ofthe terminal member 23 may be threaded to receive clamp nuts so that it may be Aattached to the line wire, or permitting it to be attached to a supporting base, such as illustrated in my co-pending application Serial Number 297,745.

It will accordingly be seen that lI have provided a construction well adapted to attain, among others, all the ends and objects above ointed out in an exceedingly simple yet e cient manner. The structure is strong, durable, rigid2 and while possessing the advantage of having an evacuated glass container has, as well, the otheradvantages inherent in metallic arresters. Moreover, the construction is such thatthe interior of the device can at all times be Viewed and the condition of the spaced electrodes located in the vacuum chamber thereby ascertained.

It will be obvious that the terminals 18 and 33 may be each connected with a different line wire and the metallic cap 30 connected with the electrode 7 with ground, or that said cap and one of the terminals may be each connected with a line wire, and the lother terminal with ground; the device as indicated operating to connect two lines with ground.

It will be Ifurther noted that the construction issuch that no strain is placed upon the evacuated glass container, the same being internall and externally protected by the libre cylinder 14 externally and internally by the mica shield 13. Thls insures against breaking of the container and the destruction of the vacuum.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departing from the scope of the following claims, it is intended that all matter .contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall beV interpreted as illustrative ong and not in a limiting sense.

aving thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-I ters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, the vcombination with an evacuated container of a plurality of electrodes mounted therein, leading-in wires extending through the walls of said container and connected with said electrodes, an insulating casing surrounding said container and rovided with a head of insulating material ocated in one end thereof, a terminal member mounted in said head, one of the leading-in wires extending through said head and connected with said terminal member, a metallic member mounted on the end of the casin adjacent the head, one of the leading-in wires being connected with said member, and a. metallic cap provided with a terminal member positioned upon the other end of said container, another of said leading-in-wires being connected with said terminal member.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with an evacuated container, leading-in wires sealed through the walls of said container and connected at their inner ends to electrodes, a tubular electrode surrounding said first named electrodes and spaced therefrom, a casing of insulating material surrounding said evacuated container, a head formed of insulating material mounted in one end of said casing, and a pair of terminal members on said head to which leading-in Wires are connected.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with an evacuated container, of leading-in wires sealed through the walls of said container, an electrode carried by the inner end of each of said leading-in wires, a tubular electrode surrounding said rst named electrodes and spaced therefrom, a casing of insulating material surrounding said evacuated container, a head formed of insulating material mounted in one end of said casin a metallic cap mounted upon the end of t e casing adjacent the head, awire leading from said cap through the walls of Said evacuated container, and connected with said tubular electrode, and a kterminal member carried by said head t0 which one of said leading-in wires is attached.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with an evacuated container, of leading-in wires sealed Vthrough the walls of said container, and electrode carried by the inner end of each lof said leadingv'in wires, a tubular electrode surrounding said first-named electrodes 'and spaced therefrom, an insulating casing surroundin said g5 evacuated container, a head of insu ating material surrounding said evacuated container, a head formed of insulating material mounted in one end of said casing, a metallic cap mounted on the end of said casing /f'adjacent said head, a wire connected with said cap and said tubular electrode passing through the walls of said evacuated container, a terminal member mounted in said head to which one of said leading-in wires is attached, and a metallic cap carried upon the other end of said casing provided wiith a terminal member to which another of said leading-in wires is attached.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with an evacuated container, of a plurality of electrodes mounted therein,

\ and provided with leading-in wires extending through the wall of said container and connected with said electrodes, an insulating casing surrounding said container, a single head of insulating material located vin one end of said casing, terminal members mounted in said head and connected to leading-in wires, one of said wires extending through said head.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with an evacuated container, of a plurality of electrodes mounted therein and connected to leading-in wires extending through the wall of said container, a casing of insulating material surrounding said container, a head. of insulating material located on one end of said casing, a terminalmember mounted in said head and connected to one ot' said electrodes by a leading-in wire extending through said head,

and a metallic member mounted upon the end of said casing adjacent the head, said metallic member being connected to another of said leading-in wires.

7. In a device o the class described, the combination with an evacuated container, a pair of block electrodes located therein, insulating supports for said blocks. leadingin wires extending through the walls of said evacuated chamber connected with said electrodes, a tubular electrode carried by the supports of said first-named electrodes and surrounding the latter, a leading-in wire extending through the walls of said evacuated container and connected with said tubular electrode, a casing formed of insulating 'material surrounding said container, a block of insulating material located in one end of said casing, a terminal member molded into said head, one of said leading-in wires extending through said head and through a bore provided in said terminal member so as to be mechanically 4and electrically conv'nected therewith, a metallic cap mounted upon the last described end of said casing, means for unitingsaid cap and said casing to said head, the leading-in wire of said tubular arrester being connected with said cap, a, metallic cap positioned upon the opposite end of said casing, a terminal member container and an open-ended tubular en- 5 carried thereby, the leading-in wire of one VBIOPVbOUt the electrodesof said first named electrodes extendn In testimony whereof I ax my signature.

through said cap and having electrical and LEON S. BRACH.

mechanical connection with said terminal member.

8. A lightning arrester having al vacuous l0 

